A Nightmare on Elm Street movie poster
If the horror movie Halloween provided the scares, Friday the 13th the gore, then A Nightmare on Elm Street would bring a touch of dark humor. The Elm Street film series featuring the “dream killer” Freddy Krueger would also handily put a film studio on the map. That’s why New Line Cinema is known as “The House that Freddy Built”. While not as apparent in the first film by Wes Craven, killer Freddy Krueger would rely on his “dark wit” in later sequels.
The Nightmare on Elm Street movie poster features Freddy’s bladed glove fingers hovering over the bed of star Heather Langenkamp. The crisp and striking style of the illustration is reminiscent of legendary movie poster artist Bob Peak. This should come as no surprise since the Elm Street one-sheet was illustrated by his son, Matthew Joesph Peak. While the stylized skull face illustration bears little resemblance to Freddy Krueger himself, it is nonetheless creepy. Artist Matthew Peak went on to illustrate other posters in the Elm Street film series.
Is it only me or to the right of the skull in the poster is there the snake head creature from the film Dreamscape?
Both films were released in 1984.
Did Peak do both posters?
There’s a scene in Nightmare on Elm Street in which Freddy’s face comes off. I think it’s in the sequence where he chases Tina (Amanda Wyss) through the alley behind her house. That’s the face you see in this poster; Freddy’s face without his burnt facial skin. Heather Langenkamp, however, is much prettier than the Nancy portrayed here in this poster.
Carlo, Artrosa Movie Site.